Local Seder aims to bond members

Published: Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 11:56 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 11:56 a.m.

Combining readings, discussion, specific foods and prayers, the feast that is the Passover Seder is a ritual that looks deeply into past of the Jewish people, all while keeping an eye on the future.

“The genius of the Seder is that it combines the narrative of enslavement with the element of feasting,” says Rabbi Phil Cohen of Agudas Israel in Hendersonville. “It has to do with the deepest meaning of the word ‘freedom.’ ” Agudas Israel Congregation will celebrate a communitywide Passover Seder on Tuesday at The Cedars restaurant in Hendersonville.

Cohen, who will be conducting the Seder for the congregation, says this feast that marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover is the most widely observed Jewish festival.

The annual springtime event is sold out this year, with 75 people from Agudas Israel participating.

“It’s quite wonderful,” says Paul Vanek, the president of the trustees at Agudas Israel. “In people’s homes it’s a celebration with family and friends, as well as a celebration of the themes of social justice that run through this.”

The opportunity to gather as a congregation is a widening of that homecentered celebration — a chance for the congregation to more closely bond together. “It’s a chance for the family and friends of the congregation to enjoy each other and the food,” Vanek says. “Hopefully the themes of social justice will resonate with them.”

There are 15 specific rituals in the Seder, each with a special meaning.

Some celebrate the onset of spring, while others recall the centurieslong enslavement of the Jewish people in Egypt.

“There is a Jewish hatred of slavery,” Cohen “There is a commitment to removing slavery from the world — whether it’s literal enslavement or psychological enslavement to our own personal issues.”

Foods traditionally eaten at a Seder are imbued with meaning, such as horseradish, eaten as the feast’s requisite “bitter herb,” to recall the bitterness of enslavement.

Some people offer horseradish in raw form, with a thumbnail-size sliver given to each guest. “There might be fire in the mouth for a while,” Cohen says. “A real reminder of slavery.”

However, for the congregation’s Seder, a less potent form of horseradish, from a jar, will be on hand, he says. Matza — unleavened bread — is a direct reminder of enslavement, as it had its beginnings during the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt.

As a celebration of freedom, guests should feast in a reclined, or at least a relaxed and comfortable position, a posture recalling either Roman feasts or the imagined behavior of freed men and women.

At the Cedars, regular chairs will have to do, Cohen says. Though, when guests are mentally prepared for the festival, there can be a lot of discussion.

“If the Seder is done seriously, with a multigenerational group at the table, it is about creating a commitment to a continuing sense of the redemption of the world,” he says.

In that way, the Seder is a celebration of the Jewish idea that the future can be better than the past; you might get up from the table with the idea of a better world.

“Whatever is current can be grist for the mill,” Cohen says.

In decades past, discussion might have tended toward the war in Vietnam, feminism or events in Israel.

Cultural and political issues aside, Cohen says he likes to tell members of the congregation that one of the lessons to take away from the feast is that “Thou shalt gain two pounds.”

Beyond issues of caloric intake, the rich history of the Passover feast continues to be revealed — as in the artifacts recently discovered that point to the celebration of the Seder in concentration camps in the 1940s.

“(The Seder) is a wonderfully ironic blend of a reminder of slavery with celebration,” Cohen says.

Vanek observes that Seders have changed a lot over the years. In his experience, Seders of his childhood years were a traditional recitation, whereas now themes of social justice have become more “front and center.”

“Fifty years ago, we weren’t concerned with hunger and homelessness,” Vanek says.

He expects Rabbi Cohen will ask questions of guests and lead participatory discussions.

“It’s one of those celebrations that binds our congregation together and makes us stronger,” Vanek says.

<p>Combining readings, discussion, specific foods and prayers, the feast that is the Passover Seder is a ritual that looks deeply into past of the Jewish people, all while keeping an eye on the future.</p><p>“The genius of the Seder is that it combines the narrative of enslavement with the element of feasting,” says Rabbi Phil Cohen of Agudas Israel in Hendersonville. “It has to do with the deepest meaning of the word 'freedom.' ” Agudas Israel Congregation will celebrate a communitywide Passover Seder on Tuesday at The Cedars restaurant in Hendersonville.</p><p>Cohen, who will be conducting the Seder for the congregation, says this feast that marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover is the most widely observed Jewish festival.</p><p>The annual springtime event is sold out this year, with 75 people from Agudas Israel participating.</p><p>“It's quite wonderful,” says Paul Vanek, the president of the trustees at Agudas Israel. “In people's homes it's a celebration with family and friends, as well as a celebration of the themes of social justice that run through this.”</p><p>The opportunity to gather as a congregation is a widening of that homecentered celebration — a chance for the congregation to more closely bond together. “It's a chance for the family and friends of the congregation to enjoy each other and the food,” Vanek says. “Hopefully the themes of social justice will resonate with them.”</p><p>There are 15 specific rituals in the Seder, each with a special meaning.</p><p>Some celebrate the onset of spring, while others recall the centurieslong enslavement of the Jewish people in Egypt.</p><p>“There is a Jewish hatred of slavery,” Cohen “There is a commitment to removing slavery from the world — whether it's literal enslavement or psychological enslavement to our own personal issues.” </p><p>Foods traditionally eaten at a Seder are imbued with meaning, such as horseradish, eaten as the feast's requisite “bitter herb,” to recall the bitterness of enslavement. </p><p>Some people offer horseradish in raw form, with a thumbnail-size sliver given to each guest. “There might be fire in the mouth for a while,” Cohen says. “A real reminder of slavery.” </p><p>However, for the congregation's Seder, a less potent form of horseradish, from a jar, will be on hand, he says. Matza — unleavened bread — is a direct reminder of enslavement, as it had its beginnings during the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt. </p><p>As a celebration of freedom, guests should feast in a reclined, or at least a relaxed and comfortable position, a posture recalling either Roman feasts or the imagined behavior of freed men and women. </p><p>At the Cedars, regular chairs will have to do, Cohen says. Though, when guests are mentally prepared for the festival, there can be a lot of discussion. </p><p>“If the Seder is done seriously, with a multigenerational group at the table, it is about creating a commitment to a continuing sense of the redemption of the world,” he says. </p><p>In that way, the Seder is a celebration of the Jewish idea that the future can be better than the past; you might get up from the table with the idea of a better world. </p><p>“Whatever is current can be grist for the mill,” Cohen says. </p><p>In decades past, discussion might have tended toward the war in Vietnam, feminism or events in Israel. </p><p>Cultural and political issues aside, Cohen says he likes to tell members of the congregation that one of the lessons to take away from the feast is that “Thou shalt gain two pounds.” </p><p>Beyond issues of caloric intake, the rich history of the Passover feast continues to be revealed — as in the artifacts recently discovered that point to the celebration of the Seder in concentration camps in the 1940s. </p><p>“(The Seder) is a wonderfully ironic blend of a reminder of slavery with celebration,” Cohen says. </p><p>Vanek observes that Seders have changed a lot over the years. In his experience, Seders of his childhood years were a traditional recitation, whereas now themes of social justice have become more “front and center.” </p><p>“Fifty years ago, we weren't concerned with hunger and homelessness,” Vanek says. </p><p>He expects Rabbi Cohen will ask questions of guests and lead participatory discussions. </p><p>“It's one of those celebrations that binds our congregation together and makes us stronger,” Vanek says.</p>